Research.com
Dakota Wesleyan University logo

Dakota Wesleyan University

#1068 in US ranking Mitchell, SD
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

Represent this school?

Update this profile on Research.com

Dakota Wesleyan University award

Cost

Cost / year
$45,259
Tuition & fees
$34,540
Avg. aid
$19,498
Receiving aid
100%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
73%
Avg. SAT
980
Avg. ACT
22

Outcomes

Graduation rate
48%
Median salary
$52,362
1 yr after graduation

What does Dakota Wesleyan University offer in terms of athletics?

Dakota Wesleyan's varsity teams compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, or NAIA. The Tigers participate in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, making athletics a visible part of campus life at a relatively small university.

Reported sports include football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, wrestling, golf, cross-country, and track and field. Varsity participation typically involves recruiting and team selection; it should not be confused with open recreation or an intramural league. Students interested in a particular team should check its current roster, coaching contacts, and eligibility rules, since sport offerings and scholarship decisions can change.

What student groups and Associations are available at Dakota Wesleyan University?

Dakota Wesleyan students have opportunities to join academic, service, cultural, and faith-related groups. Organizations identified in campus-life information include a Future Teachers Organization, Student Nurses Association, Multi-Culture Club, Human Services Club, and Student Ministry Council.

Those examples show how students may connect an intended profession or personal interest with peers outside class. Club rosters and activity levels can change from year to year, so incoming students should use the current student-activities directory or an involvement event to find active groups. Student organizations are separate from university services such as counseling and from varsity athletic teams.

Who studies at Dakota Wesleyan University?

Dakota Wesleyan is a small university with 892 students in the reported enrollment count. Its reported first-time, degree-seeking entering class numbered 192, and 67 degree-seeking undergraduates entered as transfers.

Among students in the reported geographic measure, 58% were from South Dakota, 39% from other U.S. states, and 3% from other countries. That mix suggests that a student is likely to meet both local peers and classmates who moved to Mitchell, but it says little by itself about any individual's campus experience.

The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 12 to 1. This is an institution-wide measure, not a promise that every course has 12 students or that every instructor teaches full time. Prospective students can ask their intended department about typical class sizes, advising, and course availability.

How does student life look like at Dakota Wesleyan University?

Student life at Dakota Wesleyan combines a residential campus with a substantial commuting population: 45% of students reportedly live on campus and 55% commute. Class schedules, activities, and support services may therefore matter differently to students who remain on campus in the evening and those who travel home.

Outside class, students can participate in performances, choral groups, student journalism, athletics events, and campus programming. The university also reports a health clinic and personal or psychological counseling. Incoming students should check orientation information for how to access these services and where to find activities that fit around work, practice, or commuting schedules.

What libraries are available to students at Dakota Wesleyan University?

The George and Eleanor McGovern Library is Dakota Wesleyan University's main campus library. It provides a central place for research and study at an institution that reports one campus library.

For an assignment, students should look beyond the physical collection: library catalogs, academic databases, journals, research assistance, and borrowing arrangements can be important when a needed source is not on the shelf. Students who expect to study remotely or late at night should check current database-access instructions, building hours, and available study-space policies rather than assuming the building is open around the clock.

Dakota Wesleyan University Student Life for 2027

Total enrollment

892

Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen

192

Member of Athletic Associations

NAIA

Total staff

45 full time, 43 part time

Veterans affair office

No

Dakota Wesleyan University Student Body

Undergraduate vs. graduate students

Undergraduate: 771
Graduate: 121

Full-time vs. part-time students

Full-time: 719
Part-time: 173

Full-time degree-seeking students by gender

Women: 80
Men: 112

Students by race/ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino: 47
Black or African American: 14
White: 537
American Indian or Alaska Native: 9
Asian: 3
Two or more races: 35
Unknown: 2

Dakota Wesleyan University Sports & Athletics

  • Member of NAIA

Varsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).

Sport

Varsity Intramural Aid

Baseball

Men–Men

Basketball

BothBothBoth

Cheerleading

Both–Both

Cross-country running

Both–Both

Football

Men–Men

Golf

Both–Both

Softball

WomenBothWomen

Track and field

Both–Both

Volleyball

WomenBothWomen

Weight lifting

–Both–

Wrestling

Men–Men

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

Recently Published Articles